Verbena plant named ‘VVIDB12-0’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Verbena  cultivar named ‘VVIDB12-0’ is disclosed, characterized by a compact, trailing plant habit, flexible stems and distinctive violet-blue flowers. The new variety is a  Verbena , typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Verbena hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘VVIDB12-0’.

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originated from a cross pollination of the seed parent, an unnamed, unpatented proprietary selection of Verbena hybrid with the pollen parent a different unnamed, unpatented Verbena hybrid. The crossing was made during the Summer of 2009, at a research greenhouse in Munster, Germany. ‘VVIDB12-0’ was discovered by the inventor, Hubertus Volmary, a citizen of Germany, at the same research greenhouse during the Spring of 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘VVIDB12-0’ was first performed in Munster Germany, at a commercial greenhouse by vegetative cuttings in Summer of 2010. ‘VVIDB12-0’ has since produced several generations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘VVIDB12-0’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘VVIDB12-0’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘VVIDB12-0’ as a new and distinct Verbena cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, trailing plant habit.     -   2. Highly floriferous plants     -   3. Flexible, non-brittle stems.     -   4. Distinctive deep Violet-Blue flowers.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VVIDB12-0’ are similar to the female parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘VVIDB12-0’ differs in producing a compact, trailing plant, whereas the seed parent has a mounding plant habit. Additionally, the seed parent flowers three weeks later than the new variety.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VVIDB12-0’ are similar to the male parent in most horticultural characteristics. However, ‘VVIDB12-0’ differs in having a trailing, compact plant habit, whereas the pollen has a distinctively upright plant habit.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘VVIDB12-0’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Verbena hybrid ‘USBENAL8’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,853. Plants of ‘USBENAL8’ are similar to plants of ‘VVIDB12-0’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of ‘VVIDB12-0’ are more trailing in habit and produce a darker colored flower, with more resistance to fading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘VVIDB12-0’ grown outdoors in Oxnard, Calif. This plant is approximately 2 months old, shown in a 6 inch pot. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Colour Chart, 2001, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘VVIDB12-0’ plants in a commercial greenhouse in Oxnard, Calif. Temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 29° C. night and day. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions were approximately 2500 to 4000 fc of light. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Verbena hybrid ‘VVIDB12-0’.

PROPAGATION

-   Propagation method: Vegetative Cuttings -   Time to initiate roots: About 10 days at 20.degree. C. to 25.degree.     C. -   Time to develop roots: About 20 days at temperatures of     20-25.degree. C. -   Root description: Fine, densely fibrous.

PLANT

-   Pot size of plant described: 6 inch pot. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 months from a rooted     cutting. -   Height: Approximately 5 cm from soil line of pot to top of foliar     plane. Approximately 18 cm from soil line of pot to top of uppermost     flowers. -   Plant spread: Approximately 42 cm. -   Growth rate: Rapid. -   Growth habit: Spreading. -   Branching characteristics: Free branching. -   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 18 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.4 cm. -   Quantity of primary lateral branches: Approximately 30. -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:     -   -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Purple N186B.         -   Texture.—Hirsute. Hairs less than 1 mm, colored near RHS             Greyed-Purple N187D. Stems also heavily ridged.         -   Strength.—Very strong. -   Internode length: Average 3.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 8 to 10 fully expanded leaves per             primary lateral branch with approximately 8 less developed             leaves.         -   Average length.—3.2 cm.         -   Average width.—2.4 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Deltoid, with deep lobes.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Oblique.         -   Margin.—Somewhat crenate, on deep lobes.         -   Texture of top surface.—Hirsute.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Puberulent, hirsute along main             vein.         -   Aspect.—Slightly cupped downward, mildly undulate.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.             Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 143C. Mature             foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A. Mature foliage             under side: Near RHS Green 143C.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS             Green 143C. Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green             144D.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Petiole.—Length: Average 0.6 cm. Diameter: Average 0.15 cm.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Upper surface: Near RHS             Yellow-Green 144B, slightly flushed with Red-Purple 72A.             Lower surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D, slightly flushed             with Red-Purple 72A.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Spring and Summer. -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Flat top umbel. -   Individual flower form: Salverform. -   Individual flowers per umbel: Average 12 fully opened flowers with 2     buds. -   Umbels per plant: More than 20 umbels with open flowers, on a mature     plant. -   Flower longevity on plant: Approximately 1 week for individual     flowers, approximately 3 weeks for entire umbel. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Depth.—Average 3.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average 6.2 cm. -   Individual flower:     -   -   Depth.—Average 2.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average 2.3 cm. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong.         -   Length.—1.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 144D at base, apex near             Violet-Blue 93A, but, darker. -   Corolla:     -   -   Petals (measured from separation at top of tube).—Number: 5.             Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Width: Approximately 0.9 cm.             Tube Opening Diameter: Approximately 0.25 cm. Tube/throat             Length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Shape: Overall deltoid. Deep             lobe at apex. Average lobe depth 0.2 cm. Aspect: Flat.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety. Apex: 2 obtuse lobes.             Color: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue             N89A, but darker. Lower surface: Near RHS Violet 86A. Fully             opened: Upper surface: Near RHS Violet-Blue N89A. Lower             surface: Near RHS Violet N88B. Fading: Upper surface: Near             RHS Violet 83A, but, much darker. Lower surface: Near RHS             Violet 83B.         -   Throat.—Outer Surface Color: Near RHS White N155A at base,             Violet 85A near top. Texture: Smooth. Interior Tube color:             Near RHS White N155A, blushed with Violet 86A and 86C. -   Calyx:     -   -   Form.—Funnelform. Sepals fused into a single structure,             individual sepals indistinguishable.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.4 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Sepal quantity.—5 fully fused.         -   Sepal texture.—Puberulent.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Color.—Inner and Outer surfaces: Near RHS Green 143D,             flushed with Violet 86A. More heavily flushed toward apex.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Average 7.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Green 191A. Heavily flushed             Greyed-Purple N187A.         -   Texture.—Hirsute. Hairs less than 1 mm. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Average 0.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Color.—Near Greyed-Purple N187A.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number (per flower).—4.         -   Filament length.—Not measurable, fused to corolla tube.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Globular. Length: Approximately 0.1 cm.             Color: Near RHS Yellow 1B.         -   Pollen.—Amount: Not present. -   Pistils:     -   -   Quantity per flower.—1.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Color: Near RHS             Green-Yellow 1C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Linear. Color: Near Yellow-Green 144D.         -   Ovary.—Length: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near             Yellow-Green 143D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Verbena has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures from approximately     −1° C. to 32° C. -   Drought tolerance: No tolerance for drought. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘VVIDB12-0’ as herein illustrated and described. 